Space Junk Mess Getting Messier in Orbit

SPACE.com's Space Insider Columnist
SPACE.com Leonard David
space.com's Space Insider Columnist
space.com – Tue Feb 23, 2:33 pm ET

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. — The already untidy mass of orbital debris that litters low Earth orbit nearly got nastier last month.

A head-on collision was averted between a spent upper stage from a Chinese rocket and the European Space Agency's (ESA) huge Envisat Earth remote-sensing spacecraft.

Space junk tracking information supplied by the U.S. military, as well as confirming German radar data, showed that the two space objects would speed by each other at a nail-biting distance of roughly 160 feet (50 meters).

ESA's Envisat tips the scales at 8 tons, with China's discarded rocket body weighing some 3.8 tons. A couple of tweaks of maneuvering propellant were used to nudge the large ESA spacecraft to a more comfortable miss distance.

But what if the two objects had tangled?

Such a space collision would have caused mayhem in the heavens, adding clutter to an orbit altitude where there are big problems already, said Heiner Klinkrad, head of the European Space Agency's Space Debris Office in Darmstadt, Germany.

It turns out, Klinkrad told SPACE.com, that 50 percent of all the close conjunctions that Envisat faces are due to the lethal leftovers from China's January 2007 anti-satellite test, as well as chunks of junk resulting from last year's smashup between an active U.S. Iridium satellite and a defunct Russian Cosmos spacecraft.

Klinkrad joined several orbital debris experts that took part in the 33rd Annual Guidance and Control Conference organized by the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Astronautical Society. The five-day meeting began Feb. 5.

'American Idol' Top 24 Revealed

Posted Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:11pm PST by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks

In a sort of metaphorical act of early-Christmas-present-opening (and as a definite American Idol first), a few of this season's Idol semifinalists were announced Tuesday night as part of a protracted two-night reveal. Seven hopefuls--Michael Lynche, Lee DeWyze, Todrick Hall, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Didi Benami, and Kaetlyn Epperly--received their good news on night number one, and on Wednesday, 17 more contestants edged closer to their dream of becoming the ninth American Idol.

Below is my breakdown of all 24 semifinalists, along with my thoughts on a couple of the most surprising shutouts.

THE SNUBS

Angela Martin - Sometimes who didn't get through is bigger news than who did, and that certainly is the case with this girl. Many contestants this year have sob stories, but Angela's was by far the sobbiest, which, compounded with her actual legitimate talent, seemed to make her a Season 9 shoo-in. Angela became the ultimate Idol underdog this season when, after her third audition in her final year of eligibility, she made it to Hollywood Week yet again. Angela has a 10-year-old daughter with the developmental disorder Rett Syndrome; she suffered the death of her father in season 7 right before Hollywood Week; and on top of all that, her mother went missing last Christmas. Angela stayed strong and delivered throughout Hollywood Week this season, but apparently it still was not enough. The judges seemed pained when they told her she didn't make it Wednesday, and they encouraged her to keep going. Kara DioGuardi told her: "You're one of the bravest people I have ever met, and I'm going to remember you forever." Too bad the judges didn't remember to put Angela through this time. I personally think they made a major mistake.

Thaddeus Johnson - A Rooooben-esque velvet teddy bear and self-declared mama's boy, Thaddeus was all smiles and giggles throughout Hollywood Week, but when he got rejected on Wednesday, he collapsed into agonized sobs, and it was truly heartbreaking to watch. The judges told him he "did great" and "did nothing wrong," but that feedback only seemed to confuse and upset Thaddeus even more, as in, then WHY wasn't he chosen, if he'd done so well? He sobbed all the way out of Kodak Theatre, with his mother consoling and pep-talking him and hanging on his arm...and his rejection was ultimately almost as sad as Angela's.

Pinoy Big Brother Double Up Big Winner| PBB Double Up Big Winner

Melissa Cantiveros

The only lady inside the house. She is the reason why I watch PBB Double up. I think I am inlove with her. =] Melissa Cantiveros also known as Melay became one of the Big 5 automatically because she won the game for it. I think Melay will be the PBB Double up Big Winner because she always has the maximun number of votes every nomination night and she really deserves it! Go Melay!

PS: You are not ugly!

Jason Francisco

The leading man of Melissa Cantiveros. I never expect that Jason can stay longer up to Big 5 because he was nominated almost every week. But the people outside love his personality although he is not that active in house chores or activity. And Melason has something to do with it.

Paul Jake Castillo

The rich guy in the PBB House. A lot of housemates find him rude because he is rich. But people like his strong personality and the will to win every activity. He is a leader. But I am not sure if he will make it. We don't know, his family is rich they can spend some money just to vote him right?

Steve Jumalon

The Concerned Father. He stands as a father to all of his housemates but some of them misunderstood it but I am still glad that he finally made it. but the possibility of winning is not yet sure. Maybe he will be on the 4th spot.

Johan Santos

I don't like him. Why? I do not know! i just don't like him. Besides, he has house and lot maybe he does not need to be the PBB Double up Big winner. I was shocked when I heard that Mariel is evicted. I prefer mariel though. No offense but I don't want him to win. Wala naman siyang ginawa sa bahay eh!

So this is my list of Pinoy Big Brother Double Up Ranking for the Big Winner

• PBB Double Up Big Winner is Melissa "Melai" Cantiveros
• First PBB Double Up Big Winner is Jason Francisco
• Second PBB Double Up Big Winner is Paul Jake Castillo
• Third PBB Double Up Big Winner is Johan Santos
• Fourth PBB Double Up Big Winner is Papa Tibo

Want to play WordTrotter? The first filipino game in facebook.

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Home > Nation > Top Stories

Cory Aquino going home after successful surgery

05/07/2009 | 05:33 PM

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MANILA, Philippines - Former President Corazon Aquino was set to be discharged from Makati Medical Center on Thursday after undergoing a surgery three days ago, her son, Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III, said.

“She is recuperating well after the surgery and today she will be discharged from the hospital," Senator Aquino said in a text message to reporters.

Mrs. Aquino underwent operation Monday to remove a part of her colon which was affected with cancer.

Senator Aquino said his mother had been advised by her doctors to take adequate rest for full recovery after the procedure.

“Thank you for all the support and prayers for our mother. May we ask for your continuous prayers as she has likewise been praying for you," the senator said.

He said her mother was very appreciative for the excellent care she has received from her doctors as well as the nurses and employees of Makati Medical Center. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV

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Jun 23, 2009

Governor takes a hike

For days, S.C. leaders had no idea where Mark Sanford was — and neither did his wife. » Mystery solved

• Find: Mark Sanford's stimulus battle
• Alabama governor in feud over bingo

• South Carolina governor goes missing for days
• Cowell gets brutally honest ... with himself
• Megan Fox 'horrified' she snubbed young fan
• Do train crashes point to a lapse in safety?

» More:FeaturedBuzz

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D.J. JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE
THEN: Jeff Townes was a local Philadelphia hero when he met a kid named Will Smith at a 1985 house party. They had instant chemistry and soon a hit single with 1986's "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble." It was released a month before Smith's high school graduation. Three years later they won the first ever rap Grammy for "Parents Just Don't Understand."

NOW: Officially, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince have never disbanded, but they have taken very different career paths. DJ Jeff went on to contribute scratching for Eminem, Talib Kweli, The Roots, and others. Unfortunately, things didn't turn our so well for Will Smith's career: a forgettable sitcom and some box-office bombs. Maybe Flavor Flav will put him in his next reality show.

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Jun 20, 2009

Prophecy behind '2012' film

The new end-of-world movie is based on actual beliefs with a large following. » Did Mayans predict apocalypse?

• Find Nostradamus and skeptics
• Watch the '2012' doomsday trailer

• Doomsday prophecies behind '2012' film
• Girl's dying wish moves people online
• Vending machine dispenses big surprise
• Minor leaguer's wild no-hands bat swing

» More:FeaturedBuzz

The End Is Coming in '2012'?

by Jonathan Crow    June 17, 2009

Few people have destroyed the world more than Roland Emmerich. In his mega-hit "Independence Day," aliens laid waste to pretty much every metropolitan center on the planet, and in his eco-thriller "The Day After Tomorrow," much of the northern hemisphere finds itself buried under ice. In his third crack at presenting the apocalypse, this fall's "2012," Emmerich taps into the angst of thousands of astrologers, doomsday enthusiasts, and conspiracy theorists who fear that a massive cataclysm will strike the earth on December 21 of that year. Yet unlike previous dates tied to the Earth's expiration, this one has its roots in various sources throughout history including interpretations of the Mayan calendar, astrology, and the ancient Chinese fortune-telling text the "I-Ching."

Watch the exclusive trailer for '2012' >>